Lewis star Laurence Fox: PCSO called me disgusting after I left my son in the car

Actor Laurence Fox has said he was labelled a "disgusting and appalling human being" by a police community support officer after leaving his five-year-old son in his car whilst he ran an errand.

The 35-year-old actor, who stars in ITV cop drama Lewis, said he planned to make a complaint about the officer following the incident yesterday.

Writing about happened to his 19,000 Twitter followers, he said he felt "harassed" by the PCSO, who he claimed had implied that his young son Winston had "lied" about screaming after he left the vehicle.

He said Winston had appeared "fine" after he left him alone whilst he visited a chemist to buy medicine for his 22 month old son Eugene.

He wrote: "Park in loading bay to run into chemist to get medicine for sick child. Eldest son asks to stay in the car.

"I agree as I will be minutes, return to car to find police community support officer telling me my son has been screaming in the car. He looks fine to me, ask him if he is ok and he says he's fine.

"Ask him if he was screaming. He says no. Get in the car. As I close the door police community officer calls me a "disgusting and appalling human being." And infers my son is lying I cannot believe it.

"I've got their number. Looking forward to writing to whoever it is you write to when you are harrased by the police."

It is technically illegal to leave a child under 16 alone in a locked car, but it is unclear what the punishment would be if a prosecution was brought.

The maximum sentence for neglect or abandonment of a child could theoretically be up to 10 years in jail, although any prosecution would be based on circumstances.

It is an offence to 'neglect or abandon' a child under Section One of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

Fox lives with wife Billie Piper, 31, and their two children in West Sussex.